Tool container

Abstract

A tool container ( 20, 520, 620 ) has a pair of clamshell housing members ( 22, 24, 422, 424 ) hingedly coupled to be moved between opened and closed positions. At least one of the members ( 22, 24, 422, 424 ) defines a cavity defined by a base ( 42, 44, 442, 444 ) and a wall ( 58, 60, 62, 64, 458, 460, 462, 464 ) extending from the base ( 42, 44, 442, 444 ), and a two-retaining insert ( 32, 34, 36, 37, 431, 433 ) is provided in the cavity. The insert ( 32, 34, 36, 37, 431, 433 ) and wall ( 58, 60, 62, 64, 458, 460, 462, 464 ) include alternating complementary dovetail tenons ( 74, 132, 474, 532 ) and recesses ( 76, 134, 476, 534 ) secure a tool-retaining insert in the cavity of the housing member ( 22, 24, 422, 424 ). The tool-retaining insert ( 32, 34, 36, 37, 431, 433 ) includes a number of tool-receiving recesses ( 120, 520, 620 ) therein with tool-receiving cradles ( 152, 552, 652 ) and various alternate retaining finger arrangements ( 124, 524, 525, 624 ) being provided for releasably retaining elongated tools ( 170, 570, 670 ) therein and for facilitating the ease of their removal. Such alternate arrangements including opposed pairs of tool-retaining fingers ( 124, 524, 525, 624 ) and split finger ( 624 ) configurations. A latch mechanism ( 28, 428 ) is included to releasably lock the pair of housing members ( 22, 24, 422, 424 ) in their closed position.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A tool container, comprising: 
       at least two housing members pivotally coupled with one another for opening and closing with respect to one another, at least one housing member defining a cavity for receiving tools, said cavity defined by a base and a wall extending from said base, said wall having alternating wall dovetail recesses and wall dovetail tenons thereon;  
       an insert for retaining tools, said insert being secured in said cavity, said insert having alternating insert dovetail recesses and insert dovetail tenons thereon interlockingly engageable with said alternating wall dovetail recesses and wall dovetail tenons for securing said insert to said housing member; and  
       a protrusion on at least one side wall of one of said wall dovetail tenons and said insert dovetail tenons.  
     
     
       2. A tool container according to  claim 1 , wherein said protrusion is on at least one side wall of each of said insert dovetail tenons. 
     
     
       3. A tool container according to  claim 1 , wherein said protrusion is on at least one side wall of each of said wall dovetail tenons. 
     
     
       4. A tool container according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said wall dovetail tenons and each of said insert dovetail tenons have a front face that is angled at about one (1°) degree with respect to a vertical direction. 
     
     
       5. A tool container according to  claim 4 , wherein each of said wall dovetail recesses and each of said insert dovetail recesses have faces that are at angles corresponding with the angles of said front faces of said insert dovetail tenons and said wall dovetail tenons, respectively, for frictional locking of said insert and said housing member together. 
     
     
       6. A tool container according to  claim 1 , wherein said insert includes a plurality of tool-receiving recesses therein, each of said tool-receiving recesses including a cradle portion and at least a first pair of tool-retaining fingers on an opposite side from said cradle portions, each of said tool-receiving recess further including at least a second pair of tool-retaining fingers on the same side as said cradle portion, said first and second pairs of tool-retaining fingers resiliently engaging an elongated tool on opposite sides thereof when said elongate tool is inserted into said tool-receiving recess. 
     
     
       7. A tool container according to  claim 6 , wherein each of said tool-receiving recesses further includes an inner end socket portion therein. 
     
     
       8. A tool container according to  claim 6 , wherein at least second tool-retaining fingers each include a protrusion thereon for engaging said inserted elongated tool. 
     
     
       9. A tool-receiving insert for a tool container having at least two housing members pivotally coupled with one another for opening and closing with respect to one another, at least one housing member defining a cavity for receiving tools, said cavity defined by a base and a wall extending from said base, said wall having alternating wall dovetail recesses and wall dovetail tenons thereon, said insert having alternating insert dovetail recesses and insert dovetail tenons thereon interlockingly engageable with said alternating wall dovetail recesses and wall dovetail tenons for securing said insert to said housing member; and 
       a protrusion on at least one side wall of one of said wall dovetail tenons and said insert dovetail tenons.  
     
     
       10. A tool-receiving insert according to  claim 9 , wherein said protrusion is on at least one side wall of each of said insert dovetail tenons. 
     
     
       11. A tool-receiving insert according to  claim 9 , wherein said protrusion is on at least one side wall of each of said wall dovetail tenons. 
     
     
       12. A tool-receiving insert according to  claim 9 , wherein each of said wall dovetail tenons and each of said insert dovetail tenons have a front face that is angled at about one (1°) degree with respect to a vertical direction. 
     
     
       13. A tool-receiving insert according to  claim 12 , wherein each of said wall dovetail recesses and each of said insert dovetail recesses have faces that are at angles corresponding with the angles of said front faces of said insert dovetail tenons and said wall dovetail tenons, respectively, for frictional locking of said insert and said housing member together. 
     
     
       14. A tool-receiving insert according to  claim 9 , wherein said insert includes a plurality of tool-receiving recesses therein, each of said tool-receiving recesses including a cradle portion and at least a first pair of tool-retaining fingers on an opposite side from said cradle portions, each of said tool-receiving recess further including at least a second pair of tool-retaining fingers on the same side as said cradle portion, said first and second pairs of tool-retaining fingers resiliently engaging an elongated tool on opposite sides thereof when said elongate tool is inserted into said tool-receiving recess. 
     
     
       15. A tool-receiving insert according to  claim 14 , wherein each of said tool-receiving recesses further includes an inner end socket portion therein. 
     
     
       16. A tool-receiving insert according to  claim 14 , wherein at least second tool-retaining fingers each include a protrusion thereon for engaging said inserted elongated tool. 
     
     
       17. A tool container, comprising: 
       at least two housing members pivotally coupled with one another for opening and closing with respect to one another, at least one housing member defining a cavity for receiving tools, said cavity defined by a base and a wall extending from said base, said wall having alternating wall dovetail recesses and wall dovetail tenons thereon;  
       an insert for retaining tools, said insert being secured in said cavity, said insert having alternating insert dovetail recesses and insert dovetail tenons thereon interlockingly engageable with said alternating wall dovetail recesses and wall dovetail tenons for securing said insert to said housing member;  
       a protrusion on at least one side of one of said wall dovetail tenons and said insert dovetail tenons, each of said wall dovetail tenons and each of said insert dovetail tenons having a front face that is angled at about one (1°) degree with respect to a vertical direction, each of said wall dovetail recesses and each of said insert dovetail recesses having faces that are at angles corresponding with the angles of said front faces of said insert dovetail tenons and said wall dovetail tenons, respectively, for frictional locking of said insert and said housing member together; and  
       said insert including a plurality of tool-receiving recesses therein, each of said tool-receiving recesses including a cradle portion and at least a first pair of tool-retaining fingers on an opposite side from said cradle portions, each of said tool-receiving recess further including at least a second pair of tool-retaining fingers on the same side as said cradle portion, said first and second pairs of tool-retaining fingers resiliently engaging an elongated tool on opposite sides thereof when said elongate tool is inserted into said tool-receiving recess.  
     
     
       18. A tool container according to  claim 17 , wherein said protrusion is on at least one side of each of said insert dovetail tenons. 
     
     
       19. A tool container according to  claim 17 , wherein said protrusion is on at least one side of each of said wall dovetail tenons. 
     
     
       20. A tool container according to  claim 17 , wherein each of said tool-receiving recesses further includes an inner end socket portion therein. 
     
     
       21. A tool container according to  claim 17 , wherein at least second tool-retaining fingers each include a protrusion thereon for engaging said inserted elongated tool. 
     
     
       22. A tool container, comprising: 
       at least two housing members pivotally coupled with one another for opening and closing with respect to one another, at least one housing member defining a cavity for receiving tools, said cavity defined by a base and a wall extending from said base;  
       an insert for retaining tools, said insert being secured in said cavity, said insert includes a plurality of tool-receiving recesses therein, each of said tool-receiving recesses including a cradle portion and at least a first pair of tool-retaining fingers on an opposite side from said cradle portions, each of said tool-receiving recess further including at least a second pair of tool-retaining fingers on the same side as said cradle portion, said first and second pairs of tool-retaining fingers resiliently engaging an elongated tool on opposite sides thereof when said elongate tool is inserted into said tool-receiving recess.